Reclamation & Restoration

Seeing the jewel in their midst facing immanent destruction the people of Brighton reacted and passed a vote to purchase the Pavilion from the crown. On June 19, 1850 the Royal Pavilion became the property of the town of Brighton and to this day is the only Royal Palace owned by a town in England. The Corporation of Brighton quickly began restoration work on the Royal Pavilion, adding new fireplaces and chandeliers. In 1863 Queen Victoria agreed to return some of the decorations and fittings which had not been used at Buckingham Palace.

The Royal Pavilion now entered its new life as a museum and public space used for town functions. Following World War I and the Pavilions service to the crown as a hospital, it was retuned to the town of Brighton. Eventually Queen Elizabeth II ordered the return of the balance of the furnishings removed during Queen Victoria’s reign. Restoration work began in earnest during Queen Elizabeth’s reign and continues to this day to return the Pavilion to how it looked upon it’s completion under the vision of it’s founding patron King George IV.

The Royal Pavilion receives over 400,000 visitors a year and is the most popular attraction in Brighton.

References

Tim Lambert, A Brief History of Brighton, Sussex, www.localhistories.org

Clifford Musgrave, The Royal Pavilion (Royal Pavilion Committee, 1954)

Regina Scott, Brighton's Shining Star: The Royal Pavilion, nineteenteen.blogspot.com/2009/09/brightons-shining-star-royal-pavilion.html